NIAC says use of AstraZeneca vaccine can be resumed in Ireland

The National Immunisation Advisory Committee has recommended that the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine can continue to be used in Ireland for all those aged 18 and over.

On Sunday, March 14, NIAC recommended the temporary halt to the use of the vaccine following a report from the Norwegian Medicines Agency of serious clotting events.

Following an "urgent review" of the blood clotting events by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), the EU regulatory body said the benefits of AstraZeneca vaccine "outweigh the risk of side effects".

The EMA also concluded that the vaccine is not associated with an increase of blood clots in recipients.

Dr Ronan Glynn, the deputy chief medical officer at the Department of Health said he has "recommended the recommencement of the Covid-19 vaccine AstraZeneca programme" based on assessments by the EMA and the NIAC.

In a statement, Dr Glynn said the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) has not reported any serious clotting events following the administration of more than 117,000 doses of AstraZeneca in Ireland.

He added the HSE will now work on resuming the administration of the vaccine and he would urge anyone who is offered a coronavirus vaccine to take it.

“We know that it is an extremely effective vaccine, we have seen the phenomenal effects that it is having on case loads in other jurisdictions and we’re lucky to have it as part of a range of vaccines that are now available to us,” he said.